Mali’s protest leaders stepped up pressure on President
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Sunday, calling for more demonstrations and his
resignation hours after meeting with him for talks.
The protest movement in the West African country has brought
thousands to the streets, channelling deep frustration over jihadist violence
and inter-ethnic attacks that have forced thousands from their homes since
2012.
A video posted on the presidency’s Twitter account earlier
Sunday had shown the meeting between the president and Mahmoud Dicko, an imam
and leading figure of the so-called June 5 movement, in the capital Bamako on
Saturday.
It was the first official meeting between the two men since
two demonstrations last month drew tens of thousands to the streets.
Keita, who has been in power since 2013, also met
representatives of other political parties with the aim of “easing the
political situation”, the presidency said.
But the opposition coalition of religious leaders,
politicians and civil society figures on Sunday said in a statement Keita had
“ignored the demands” movement.
These requests included the dissolution of parliament and
the formation of a transitional government whose movement would appoint the prime
minister.
The movement “reaffirms its determination to obtain by legal
and legitimate means the outright resignation” of the head of state, the
opposition coalition statement said.
That was a reversal from Wednesday when protest leaders had
said that Keita’s resignation would no longer be a condition for talks.
Earlier, Dicko said he had hoped to find a solution to the
standoff after meeting the president.
“My role as an imam, as I have said, obliges me to be
someone who always considers peace as being essential: peace in our country,
the sub-region and in the world”.
The slow pace of political reform, a flagging economy, a
lack of funding for public services and schools and a widely shared perception
of government corruption have fed anti-Keita sentiment.
Last month’s protests followed demonstrations in May over
the results of March’s long-delayed parliamentary elections – which Keita’s
party won – as well as over coronavirus restrictions.
The 75-year-old president has taken a conciliatory stance
since the demonstrations began, mooting a national unity government in a 14
June address to the nation. Protest leaders rejected that offer.
One of the poorest countries in the world, Mali has been
engulfed in conflict since a jihadist insurgency emerged in the north in 2012
and spread to the fragile centre of the country in 2015, as well as to
neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
(Today.ng)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News